Earnings Preview: Home Depot sees FY12 EPS $2.95, to take $160M charge in Q3

Home Depot (HD) is expected to report Q3 earnings before the market open on Tuesday, November 13 with a conference call scheduled for 9:00 am ET. Analysts are looking for EPS of 70c on revenue of $17.92B. The consensus range is 68c-74c for EPS, and $17.75B-$18.07B for revenue, according to First Call. After reporting better than forecast Q2 EPS, the company raised its FY12 EPS view to $2.95 from $2.90, reflecting stock buybacks, vs. consensus $2.97. The company also forecast FY12 same-store sales up 4.6% and said it intends to repurchase $1.4B in additional shares over the rest of 2012. During the quarter, CEO Frank Blake told Reuters that the U.S. housing market is a "long way away from true recovery". The company backed its FY12 EPS view and said it will take a charge of $160M, or approximately 10c per share, in Q3 on the close of seven big box stores in China. Home Depot could surprise investors in its Q3 report, Barron's said on October 29. Consumers are scampering to buy up home repair supplies, batteries, generators and such to fight off the effects of Hurricane Sandy boosting sales at the home builder stores. Analysts believe Home Depot may come out on top of rival Lowe's (LOW) given its larger store presence in storm-affected areas. Analysts and investors will listen for comments from the company on the housing recovery, as well as what impact Hurricane Sandy and Winter Storm Athena may have on its Q4 and FY12 results.